Machine for making matches.



iAppliuation filed Sept. .5 19014) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITN ESSES ,eebm- 6 69km Nd. 7I6,.825.H Patented Dec. 23 I902,

v J; A. 1s. CRISWELL. MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES.

,(Applicatio q filed Sept 5. 1901. I (No modem 46heets-Sheet 2.

III/1711117 III) WITNESSES: 47

No. 7I6,825. Patented Dec. 23, 902.

J. A. E. CBISWEL-L.

cums FOR MAKING MATCHES.

(Application filed Sept. 5. 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet s.

WITNESSES No. 716,825.. Patentd Dec. 23, 1902.

J. A. E. CRISWELL. MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES.

Ap licauion'med Sept. 5. 1901 (Nn'llodeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

JAMES A. EKIN CRISWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,825, dated December 23, 1902.

i Application filed fieptember 5,1901. Serial No. 74,347. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lines A. EKIN CRIS- WELL, of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Matches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Thisinvention relates to match-making machines, and more particularly to machines such as is disclosed in my Patent No. 656,014, dated August 14, 1900. y

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means by which the splints as they are cut will be forced directly into the separator and the latter then given an oscillatory and reciprocatory movement to separate the splints into independent rows and to force or stick the rows into a suitable carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for operating the several parts of the machine.

The invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the separator, taken on the line III III of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the separator, taken on the line IV IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail plan of the separator-section removed from the machine and showing some of the operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the position of the separator after the splints are separated and as they are forced into the carrier. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the separator members. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the members shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of one form of cutting device. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the plunger device. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the position of the splints after they are separated. Fig. 12 is a section through the separator and shows the latter provided with relatively fixed and movable members. Fig. 13 shows the position of the splints when the latter are 19 shows how long splints may be cut into complete splints and the complete splints sepa rated and forced into a carrier located above the separator or section.

The frame 10 may be of any suitable construction, and supported between the sections thereof is a hopper 11. The cards or blanks 12 are forced through the hopper 11 bya follower 13. The cards are of the thickness and length of the splints and of a width sufficient to provide a number of splints, and as the cards are forced through the hopper they will be suitably supported under a plunger 14. This plunger is secured to" a slide 15, that moves vertically in the frame 10, and said slide is held by a yielding connection to an arm 16. The arm 16 is secured to a rockshaft 17, and to the rock-shaft is secured a shorter arm 18, the end of which is connected to an eccentric strap or rod 19, that is operated by an eccentric on the shaft 20. A gear 21 on theshaft 20 is operated by a smaller gear or pinion 21 on the main drive-shaft 22, and on the main drive-shaft is the usual beltpulley. As the drive-shaft is operated the mechanism described will force the cards to a suitable cutting device 23. As shown, the cutting device, Figs. 1 and 9, as well as the other parts so far described, are substantially the same as in mypatent hereinbefore referred to and may be of any suitable form.

The cutting device 23 consists of a roll of circularcutters 24, held to a shaft or spindle 25 and spaced apart the width of the splints. The cutters cut the splints against a roll 26, and this latter roll is smaller than the cutters to permit the splints to be carried past said roll without requiring the splints to be forced any farther than is necessary by the plungers 14, the said plunger being slotted, as at 27,

Fig. 9, topass by and between the cutters, as fully set forth in my patent.

To separate or divide the splints into independent rows, a separator or section 28 is provided. This separator has the end pieces 29 and a bracket 30, which rigidly holds the end pieces together to form the separatorframe. Slidingly held in the separator-frame are two bodily-movable members 31 and 32.

These members are independently movable and have each a series of fixed fingers or devices 33. The fingers or splint-engaging devices have abutments 34, 35, and 36 and are adapted to intermesh and fit into each other when said members are forced inward to separate the splints into independent rows, as will be presently described. The fingers or splint-engaging devices are arranged in series or sets, the number of which may vary with the number of rows into which the splints are divided. As shown, there are three sets or series of fingers on each member, and to one of the members, as 31, is held atransverse bar 37, the latter being provided with a yielding surface to compensate for varying thicknesses of splints and to form a backing for the splints when forced between the separator members. A spring 38 is held against the abutments 35 of the member 31 and is adapted to hold every third splint yieldingly against the transverse bar 37, and carried by the member 31 is an abutment or supporting-surface 39, on which the lower ends of the splints are adapted to rest. This abutment 39 is adapted to fit into asocket in the member 32 when the members are forced together to separate the splints and is adapted to take the thrust of the splints during the sticking operation, as will be hereinafter described. It will be seen that the splints are forced in a single row and in a common plane between the separator members 31 and 32 and that every third splint or one set will be held between the longest finger of the member 31 and the transverse bar 37, a second set will be held by the springs 38 and said transverse bar 37, while the third set rests against the abutments 34 of the longest fingers of the member 32. During the separation the third set is free to move toward the abutments 36 of the member 31 and will be prevented from moving in any direction except toward said abutments 36 by the springs 38 on one side and the longest fingers of the member 31 on the other side, which form a series of channels between them. As the members are moved or forced toward each other the splints held by the transverse bar 37 and the abutments 34 will be carried against the abutments 36 of the member 32, the second set will be held between the springs 38 and the abutments 35, and the third set between the longest fingers of the member 32 and the abutments 36 of the member 31, the several abutments of the two members forming sockets for the splints and holding the latter separated and in independent parallel rows.

The members 31 and 32 of the separator or section are provided with teeth 41 on their lower surface, which are in mesh with the gears 42. The separator is provided with a supporting-shaft 43, and on said shaft 43 is a gear or pinion 44 and a larger gear or pinion 45. The pinion or gear 45 on the shaft 43 is in mesh with a gear 46 on the gear-shaft that operates the member 31, while the pinion 44 is in mesh with an idler 47, carried by the separator-frame, said idler meshing with a pinion 48 on the gear-shaft that operates the member 32. As the shaft 43 is rotated independently of the turning or oscillatory movement of the separator, the pinion 45 and gears operated thereby will force the member 31 inward, and the pinion 44, through the idler 47 and gears operated thereby, will force the member 32 also inward and will separate the splints into three independent rows. The two members thus move bodily toward each other independent of the turning or oscillatory movement of the separator 28, and the operating-gears are so proportioned with respect to each other that the members will be forced the proper distance to separate the splints into independent and parallel rows.

The separator 28 moves with the blocks or bearings 49, and said separator has a sleeve 50 projecting outward therefrom, which surrounds the shaft 43. These blocks are slidingly held in the frame 10 and form bearings for the sleeve 50 and the shaft 43, and when forced along their guides they will carry the shaft 43 and the separator-section therewith. One end piece 29 of the separator carries the sleeve 50, and formed on or secured to the sleeve isa segmental gear 51, that is adapted to mesh with teeth on the stationary rack 52. A disk 53, provided with a foot 54, rotates with the sleeve and the segmental gear 51, and said foot at the proper time is adapted to rest upon a stationary plate or block 55, so that as the shaft 37 and bearings are forced outward along the rack 52 the segmental gear will rotate the separator and will cause the foot 54 to rest upon the plate or block 55, so as to steady and position the separator, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. A segmental gear 56 is secured to the shaft 43 and meshes with a stationary or fixed rack 57, and a disk 58, having a foot 59, rotates with the segmental gear 56 and is adapted at the proper time to engage the surface of the plate or block 60. This latter movement is substantially identical to that for rotating the separator and difiers therefrom only in the number of teeth on the gear 56 and rack 57 and position of the foot 59 and is for the purpose of rotating the shaft the proper distance relatively to the turning movement of the separator to operate the gear-rolls, and

thereby move the members 31 and 32 toward each other to separate the splints.

As a means for reciprocating the bearings 49 and the shaft 43 the ends of the latter pass through openings in the ends of the rods 61. There is a rod for each end of the shaft 43, and on the outer ends of the shaft are collars 62. The rods are operatively connected to and are operated by eccentrics 63, that are secured to the shaft 64. On the shaft 64 is a gear 65 and a locking-arm 66. The gear 65 is adapted to mesh with a segmental gear 67 on the shaft 20, and carried by the gear 67 is a rib or flange 68, which is adapted to enmon entering groove or channel to receive the splints endwise in a single row and in a common plane, and in this position and while receiving the splints the shaft 43 and the eccentrics 63 are locked by the arm 66 and rib or flange 68.

The outward movement of the separator will force or stick the splints into the carrier or other holding means. The carrier may be of any suitable form and may be fed to and removed from the machine in the usual or in i any preferred manner. As shown, the carrier 69, Fig. 6, is the usual plate, provided with holes, into which the splints are forced by the separator, the holes in the carrierplates being staggered to correspond with the position of the splints after being separated. The plates may be hinged or linked together or may be passed through the machine and then removed and the matches completed by hand, or they may be completed automatically in the usual way. a

The separator during the return movement after sticking the splints into the carrier is subjected to means for cleaning the holding devices of any fiber, dust, and the like that might remain in and tend to clog the same. For this purpose a pipe or chute 70 has its mouth arranged in the path of movement of the separator, the chute being fiared at its lower end and cut away between its sides to permit the separator to pass. This pipe has its other end connected to an exhaust-fan and has a valve 71 arranged therein. This valve is normally held closed by a spring 72, that has one end fastened to one end of a bell-crank lever 73. This lever is fastened to the shaft of the valve 71 and has its lower end provided with a pivoted engaging finger that is adapted to move on its pivot in one direction only, and said finger is arranged in the path of movement of a cam-surface 74 on the plunger-slide 15. As the plunger-slide is forced upward the cam-surface will engage the pivoted finger and will tilt the lever 73 and open the valve 71 at a time when the separator is under the mouth of the chute and duringits return movement. On the outward movement of the separator to divide the splints and stick them in the carrierand during the downward stroke of the plunger the valve 71 will be closed by the spring 72, so as not to interfere with the separator either in receiving or in dividing the splints, the plunger during its downward stroke tilting the finger of the bell-crank lever without opcrating the latter. Instead of the means shown for operating the valve 71 any suitable means may be employed, and the bracket 30 of the separator may be open to assistin cleaning the separator.

The timing and operating mechanism of the several parts may be of any suitable form, and for operating the cutter-roll a gear 75 is arranged on the shaft 20. This gear is in mesh with an idler 76, which is adjustable on the frame 10, and the latter gear is in mesh with a gear 77 on the co tter-spindle.

The invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The parts being operated, the cards 12 will be forced by the plunger 14 to the cutting de-.

already explained, and will be forced into the holding devices of the carrier 69, the separator being returned to its former position to receive another row of splints.

From the foregoing it will be seen that simple and efficient means is provided by which the splints as they are out are forced direct into the separator and by the latter divided into independent parallel rows and then forced into the carrier.

In Fig. 12 the separator is provided with relatively movable and stationary members 78 and 79. The construction of these members is substantially the same as already described. The member 79 is fixed to the sepa rater-frame, while the member 7 8 is movable toward the fixed member. This movable member 78 is provided with teeth on its lowersurface, which mesh with gears on the shaft 80, the latter being journaled in the frame of the separator or section and operated in substantially the same manner as already described, the only difference being that the member 78 will have a greater throw than where both members are movable.

IIO

Fig. 13 shows how the fingers or splint-engaging devices may be made to separate the splints into four independent rows.

The separator 81 in Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 has two pivotal or swinging members 82 and 83. These members are provided with splintengaging devices, fingers, or ribs 84 along their face and are curved or rounded, as at 85, so as to be gradually developed, and when in the position shown in the figures they form a common entering groove or channel S5 between them. The member 84 is cut away at 86, so that said member will not interfere with splints previously forced into the carrier, and

said member is provided with shanks or studs 87, that are journaled in the separator-frame, while the member 83 is provided with studs or shanks 88, which are also journaled in the separator-frame. The members have a booklike action and receive the splints at right angles to the plane of the separator members and when the latter are in an open position. When the members are swung toward each other, as will be presently described, they will gradually separate the splints and carry them inward, so as to rest upon an abutment-plate 89, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17. The shaft 43 is provided with a gear 90, and this gear is in mesh with a pinion 91 on the shank 87 of the member 83. On the shank or stud 87 is a second pinion 92, that meshes with a similar pinion on one of the shanks or studs 88, so that both members of the separator will be moved toward each other and during said movement will separate the splints into a series of independent parallel rows. The movement and means for operating the separator 81 and the shaft 43 together and independently with respect to each other may be sub stantially the same as described in connection with the other views.

In the form shown in Fig. 18 the separator members in the common entering groove or channel 85 are provided with a series of yielding devices 93,that are adapted to yieldingly hold the splints and to compensate for splints of different thicknesses. In this case, as in Figs. 14 to 17, the splints maybe divided into four instead of three independent rows.

Fig. 19 shows how long splints or splint strips may be cut into complete splints and the latter separated into independent rows and then forced into the carrier or holding means. The blanks or strips 94 are fed to the cutting device 23 in any suitable manner and cut into long splints orsplint strips. These splint-strips are forced between the guide 95 and the table 96. The guide 95 prevents the splints from following the roll 26, and the table 96 has fingers entering between the cutters, which prevent the splints from following the latter. An opening or slot 97 is provided in the table 96, and over said slot is a reciprocating or other knife 98, that cuts the long splints transversely to form complete splints, the latter being separated and forced into the carrier by anyof the means previously shown or described.

The class of machinery to which this invention belongsis broadly claimed in my pending applications, Serial No. 737,186, filed November 16, 1899, Serial No. 60,212, filed May 14, 1901, and Serial No. 61,214, filed May 21, 1901, and the particular class in which a device oscillates and reciprocates is broadly claimed in my pending applications, Serial No. 45,044, filed January 28, 1901, Serial No. 55,610, filed April 13, 1901, and Serial No. 55,448, filed April 12, 1901.

By the term veneer it will be understood that wood veneer or any material from which splints may be made is included, and while a particular kind of splints is shown the latter may be of any suitable shape according to the various means that may be employed for producing them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for supplying splints, of an oscillatory separator-section having members provided with fixed holding devices adapted to intermesh and which receive the splints endwise in a common plane direct from the splint-supplying means, means for forcing the members toward each other to cause the fixed devices to intermesh and divide the splints into more than two independent rows during the oscillatory movement of the separator, and in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the splints are received, and holding means receiving the splints from the separator.

2. In a match-making machine, the combination with splint-cutting means and means for feeding veneer to the cutting means, of an oscillatory separator having members provided with fixed holding devices receiving the splints endwise in a common plane direct from the cutting means and separating them into more than two independent rows in a plane at right angles to the plane in which they are received and during the oscillatory movement of the separator, gears carried by the separator for moving the members toward each other, a carrier, and means for reciprocating the separator to forcibly insert the splints in the carrier.

3. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for supplying splints, of an oscillatory and reciprocatory section having merely two opposed members movable toward each other and receiving a row or line of splints endwise between them and separating the row bodily at once into more than two independent rows, and a carrier receiving the splints endwise from the separator-section during the reciprocatory movement thereof.

4. In a match-making machine, the combination with splint-cutting means, of a carrier, an oscillatory and reciprocatory section provided with members having fixed devices adapted to intermesh and receiving the splints endwise direct from the cutting device and separating the splints into independent rows and forcibly inserting them into the carrier, and means as an exhaust for removing dust, fiber and the like from the section.

5. In match-making machinery, the combination with splint-cutting means, of a bodilymovable oscillatory and reciprocatory separater-section having two opposed members movable toward each other and provided with fixed devices adapted to intermesh and receiving the splints endwise direct from the cut- IIO ting means and separating them into more than two independent rows, holding means receiving the splints endwise during the reciprocatory movement of the section, and means for removing dust, fiber and the like from the separator-section.

6. In match-making machinery, the combination with a carrier, of a bodily-movable oscillatory and reciprocatory separator having members provided with fixed splint-engaging devices adapted to intermesh, cutting means delivering the splints endwise direct into the separator, means for actuating the members to separate the splints, together with means for turning the separator and for forcing the separator to stick and leave the splints in the carrier.

7. In match-making machinery, the combination with splint-cutting means, of a carrier,

together with an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator section provided with relatively stationary and movable members having fixed splint-engaging devices adapted to intermesh and receiving the splints endwise, moving them bodily at once and dividing the splint-s into independent rows, and finally forcing the separated rows into the carrier during'the reciprocatory movement of the separator.

S. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for supplying splints, of a carrier, and an oscillatory and reciprocatory section provided with two members movable toward each other and having fixed splintengaging devices adapted to intermesh and hold the splints separated and which forcibly stick the splints into the carrier during the reciprocatory movement of the section.

9. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for supplying splints, of an oscillatory and reciprocatory section having members provided with fixed fingers movable toward each other and receiving the splints endwise, carrying them bodily at once to the side of the splint-supplying means and holding the splints separated, holding means for the splints, and means for reciprocating the section to force the splints into the holding means.

10. In match-making machinery, the combination with splint-cutting means, of an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator having members provided with fixed fingers movable toward each other and separating the splints into independent rows, and holding means for the splints.

11. In a match-making machine, the combination with splint-cutting means, of a carrier, together with an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator having two members provided with fixed fingers movable toward each other and separating the splints into independent roWs and which forcibly stick the splints into the carrier during the reciprocatory movement of the separator.

12.. In a match-making machine, the combination with splint-cutting means, of an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator section having two members each provided with fixed devices adapted to intermesh and which receive the splints between them and divide the splints into independent rows while moving toward each other,'a carrier, together with means for reciprocating the separator-section to stick the splints into the carrier. I

13. In a match-making machine, the combination with a splint-cutting device cutting the material into long splints, of an oscillatory and reciprocatoryseparator-section having members provided with fixed fingers and receiving the long splints endwise from the cutting device, a second cutting device cutting the splints transversely to form complete splints while held by the separator-section, a carrier, together with means for reciprocating the section to stick and leave the splints in the carrier.

14. In match-making machinery, the combination with a cutting device cutting the material into' long splints,-an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator-section receiving the splints endwise from the cutting device and having members movable toward each other and which separate the splints into independent rows, a second cutting device cutting the long splints into complete splints while held by the separator members, and holding means receiving the splints from the separator-section.

15. In a match-making machine, the combination with splint-cutting means, of an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator-section having two pivotal and swinging members provided with gradually-developed splint-engaging devices along their faces adapted to separate thesplints into independent rows, a carrier, together with means for reciprocating the section to force and leave the splints in the carrier.

16. In match-making machinery, the combination with splint-cutting means, of an oscillatory and'reciprocatory separator having two pivotal members provided with intermeshing devices that separate the splintsinto independent rows as they move toward each other, means for operating the members, and

,holding means for the splints.

17. In match-making machinery, the combination with splint-cutting means, of an oscillatory and reciprooatory separator having two pivotal members provided with fixed intermeshin g fingers movable toward each other and separating the splints into more than two independent rows, and holding means for the splints.

18. In match-making machinery, the combination with an oscillatory and reciprocatory separator having two pivotal members movable toward each other, and each provided with fixed fingers adapted to intermesh,means for movingthe members toseparate the splints into independent rows, a carrier, together tween the members while open and separate with means for moving the separator bodily the splints as the members are closed, means IO to force the separated splints into the carrier. for opening and closing the members, and 19. In amatch-making machine, the combiholding means for the splints.

5 nitionofanoscillatoryandreciprocatorysepa- JAMES A. EKIN CRISWELL.

rator having independent pivotal members Witnesses: which open and close With a book-like action, CHAS. E. RIORDON,

and which receive the splints endwise be- KARL J. DANIEL. 

